Starmer’s Entry In 10 Downing Street; India-UK FTA Remains On Track

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his new counterpart in the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, on Saturday, congratulating him on his appointment as Prime Minister and the Labour Party's historic election victory.

PM Modi said that the two countries are committed to deepening economic ties. During the telephonic conversation with Starmer, he also invited him for an early visit to India.

Starmer held his first Cabinet meeting the same day, facing the enormous challenge of addressing numerous domestic issues while appealing to a population tired of years of austerity, political turmoil and a struggling economy.

Change In London And New Delhi
Shairee Malhotra, Europe Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, believes that UK-India ties will likely continue to strengthen under Starmer’s stable majority government. “Relations with India were upgraded to a 2+2 mechanism and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership guided by a Roadmap 2030 Blueprint,” Malhotra adds.

Starmer's Approach To India-UK Relations
Starmer has prioritised India-UK relations during his campaign, steering the Labour Party away from its previous left-wing stance under Jeremy Corbyn and towards a more pragmatic approach. This shift is expected to positively impact relations with India.

As of 2024, approximately 1.9 million Indians are living in the United Kingdom. This makes them the largest visible ethnic minority group in the country, forming a significant part of the British Asian community and one of the largest Indian communities in the Indian diaspora​.

In the past, the Labour Party's stance on Kashmir, especially under Corbyn, was viewed as pro-Pakistan and anti-India. Starmer has worked to reverse this perception, banning Corbyn from standing in elections and eventually expelling him from the party.

Starmer is also keen on cooperation in areas like security, education, technology and climate change.

Long Awaited Free Trade Agreement
With a new government in place in Britain, senior officials from India and the UK will convene the next round of talks for the proposed free trade deal this month to settle outstanding concerns and conclude negotiations, according to a media report. The India-UK FTA talks began in January 2022. The 14th round of talks halted as the two countries entered their general election cycles.

Malhotra says that issues such as Britain's demand for lower Indian tariffs on automobiles and alcohol still need resolution. On the Indian side, the desire for an eased visa regime for students and professionals might be easier to address under Labour’s less anti-immigration stance.

Malhotra also believes that the Labour Party’s significant majority in the British Parliament would smoother decision-making on issues like the Indian FTA.

“Discussing the Free Trade Agreement, the Prime Minister said he stood ready to conclude a deal that worked for both sides. The leaders hoped to meet at the earliest opportunity,” the release by the UK PMO stated.

Earlier, a senior government official said that the Indian negotiation team was in the UK for the advanced stage of negotiations for the India-UK FTA. According to government sources, both countries had made significant progress following the completion of the 14th round of negotiations in January 2024.

Defence Cooperation
Earlier this year, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with UK defence industry leaders, focusing on strengthening the India-UK defence industrial relationship. Both nations identified joint work areas like aero-engines, electric propulsion, missiles, power packs and maritime systems, and signed agreements on defence collaboration in research and development.

Both countries also have been collaborating on several defence initiatives including conducting joint military exercises and sharing intelligence to ensure maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. The UK’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy highlights the importance of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and indicates a commitment to a deeper engagement with India in this region​.

With the new PM in the UK, it remains to be seen how collaboration on critical global issues like the Ukraine war, the Palestinian conflict and security challenges in the South China Sea will develop.

Sangeet Kumar Sanu

BW Reporters Sangeet Kumar Sanu as a Correspondent reports on Defence, Space and Foreign Affairs for BW since 2022.